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Explore Hamilton

Summer ESL Program for Youth:
Explore Hamilton, Ontario

Located halfway between Toronto and Niagara Falls, the City of Hamilton is the perfect place to practice your English language skills this summer!

About Our Program

The Explore Hamilton program is a month-long program for youth aged 14-18 from Canada and abroad. It offers formal English instruction for all levels, educational outings and workshops, day trips to Toronto and Niagara Falls, and the opportunity to make friends with students from Canada and other countries. This program is run in partnership with the Centre linguistique de Jonquière in Quebec.

Why Hamilton?

Hamilton, Ontario is a city like no other. It has a rich history and culture and is surrounded by nature. Known for its industrial heritage, Hamilton has a unique urban feel, a vibrant arts scene, and a bustling downtown. Bounded by Lake Ontario and the Niagara Escarpment, Hamilton offers incredible access to nature trails, parks, waterfalls, museums, art galleries, as well as incredible restaurants and shopping experiences.

What is included in the program?

English Classes

A major part of the program is formal English language instruction by our qualified instructors. All of our English instructors are experienced, knowledgeable, and are able to offer differentiated instruction for each student. They also know how to make learning English fun!

Before arriving in Hamilton, all students must complete an online English test. Based on the results of the test, each student will be placed into a beginner, intermediate or advanced English class.

The English classes are held in the morning, 5 days a week (Monday to Friday). Lessons focus on reading and writing in English, as well as listening, comprehension, and speaking. Students from Quebec may be able to use the Explore program as credit for an English language course at their Cégep.

Workshops

Another important part of the Explore Hamilton program are the mandatory workshops which allow students to develop their skills in different areas. The workshops change each year, depending on the skills and interests of the staff and students, but here are some examples of workshops we’ve had in the past:

Theatre

Music

Visual Arts

Sports Leadership

Multimedia

Science and Technology

Dance

Educational Outings

Because of Hamilton’s rich history and culture, students will participate in guided educational experiences at Mohawk College and at locations around Hamilton.

Hamilton’s convenient location allows us to take students on day trips to exciting destinations outside of Hamilton such as:

Downtown Toronto

Niagara Falls

Nearby beaches

Accommodations & Meals

Our students are placed with local host families who are chosen and monitored by Canada Homestay Network. Living with a host family provides students with an excellent support system, a safe and comfortable living environment, three nutritious meals per day (breakfast, lunch and dinner), and opportunities to practice their English outside of the classroom.

There is often more than one Explore student in each homestay. This provides students with an additional support system throughout the program. Students in the same homestay often become quite close and develop strong friendships.

Canada Homestay Network is a family-run, non-profit society that has been placing students in homestays since 1995. It is known for the quality of service it provides to students and works with each student to make sure they feel comfortable and safe in their homestay.

More Information For

Canadian Students

Explore Bursary

The Government of Canada provides a bursary that covers the major expenses for participating in the Explore program. The funding covers tuition fees for the programs, instructional materials, meals and accommodations, workshops, and other mandatory activities. The funding is transferred directly to the host institution, and the participant will receive a tax receipt for it.

Please visit the Explore Program website for more information about the Explore bursary, who is eligible, draw dates, and how to apply.

2019 Dates

Arrival date in Hamilton: Monday, July 1
First day of program: Tuesday, July 2
Last day of program: Wednesday, July 31
Departure date: Thursday, August 1
Program length: 32 days (approximately 5 weeks)

Additional Costs

Canadian students who receive the Explore bursary will still need to cover some of their costs. Aside from personal spending money (for snacks or souvenirs, etc.) there are three main costs that the participant must cover:registration fee, travel expenses, and bus pass.

1) Registration Fee ($275)

This non-refundable fee must be paid in order to reserve your place in the program, not when applying for an Explore bursary. You only have to pay this fee when you confirm your participation in the program.

2) Travel Expenses (variable amount)

Each participant is also responsible for paying for their transportation to and from Hamilton. Participants will learn more about their transportation options after they have registered and been accepted to the program.

3) Hamilton Bus Pass (approx. $100)

Each participant is required to purchase a bus pass for the City of Hamilton. This will allow the students to travel to and from Mohawk College and around the city during the program.

Optional Pre-Paid Activities

After students are accepted to the program, they will have the opportunity to sign up and pay for optional, paid activities that take place outside of the regular program time. The cost for each activity can range from $25-$100.